What is ControTrace? Why is it used worldwide by global EPC’s, specified by discerning clients? What problems do CSI's bolt-on elements solve?
Controls Southeast Inc. / AMETEK
Sulfur experts & thermal process solutions provider for chemical, petrochemical and processing industries for 50+ years.
ControTrace – Innovative Heating for Piping – (3-minute Overview)
Why is ControTrace the preferred tracing solution worldwide by Global EPC’s, often specified by discerning clients, on projects for Refineries, Petrochemical, Chemical and Chemical Plastics Recycling?
A Three Minute Overview, we answer those questions, giving a brief overview of the ControTrace product and note a few key applications along the way. It’s a chance to understand how CSI AMETEK has become your trusted thermal process solutions provider.
Bolt-On Heating Elements for Process Piping, Tanks, & Vessels
ControTrace®: Preferred steam tracing solution vs fully jacketed pipe and tube tracing.
Applications: Temperature maintenance & melt-out on process piping, tanks, & vessels.
Proven Performance: 500+ miles (800 km) of guaranteed installations in faciliites worldwide.
Advantages:
ControTrace –Basic Heating Element– High Heat Capacity [Fig 1]
Design: Simple 2-in by 1-in rectangular heat tracing element, SA178 Grade A boiler tube
Feature: Contacting side is contoured to fit closely with the pipe, tank wall or vessel
Installation: Heat transfer compound (HTC) ensures optimal conductive contact compensating for surface imperfections. Utilizes high-strength banding for permanent installation.
Consistency - Uniformly Distributed Heating System [Fig. 2]
Precision Engineering: ControTrace provides a consistent and engineered heating solution, unlike tube tracing, ensuring accuracy from the start.
Versatility: Designed to handle various conditions—start-up, process upsets, shut-downs, maintenance, and different weather conditions.
Applications: Suitable for molten sulfur, sulfur vapor (vent/tail gas), coker charge pump, asphalt, crude, urea solution, acid gases, polymers, plastics, chemically recycled plastics, water condensation, resins, winterization and many more.
Thermal Objectives: Effective for freeze protection, bulk or critical thermal maintenance, uniform pipe-wall temperature, and high-heat rate requirements like melt-out.
Maximize Process Up Time – Avoid Cross Contamination! [Fig. 3]
ControTrace external heating systems eliminate potential of cross-contamination between the product or heating fluid [Fig 3.], which can occur in fully jacketed thermal solutions.
ControTrace utilizes robust heating elements, SA‑178 Grade A boiler tube pressure rated per ASME Section VIII, Div.1, for extended operational life. For higher pressure or more aggressive environments an optional SA-312 Grade TP316, is available.
ControTrace minimizes thermal stress. Uniform distribution of heat eliminates thermal-stress distortion that occurs when a heated section receives high-heat input while another section is relatively cold.
CSI’s Thermal Performance Guarantee [Fig. 4]
Guaranteed Performance: ControTrace is engineered to meet thermal performance objectives under all environmental and process conditions.
Expertise & Accuracy: CSI leverages extensive heat transfer expertise, quality products, and proprietary computer modeling to ensure accuracy.
Advanced Modeling: Utilizes finite thermal analysis and computational fluid dynamics, refined and validated with empirical field data across multiple projects over many years.
Thermodynamic Modeling Considerations: Pipe size, wall thickness, and material properties. Process and heating medium fluid properties (e.g., Cp, flow rates). Worst-case ambient temperature and wind conditions. Insulation type and thickness. Thermal objectives (e.g., freeze protection, thermal maintenance, melt-out)
CSI - AMETEK is your trusted thermal process solution provider. [Fig. 5]
Contact CSI for a heating evaluation of your existing installation or upcoming projects.
In addition to Controtrace we are a provider and experienced for all the thermal heating methods including enhanced tube tracing (TraceBOOST), Fully jacketed-piping, valve & instrument jacketing (ControHeat), and others making us a technology neutral solution provider. Take a moment to talk to the experts at CSI and we will give you a professional, experienced and honest assessment of what we can do, or not do, as your trusted thermal process solution provided.